The Space We Hold Episode III: inti figgis-vizueta

The Space We Hold is a five-part documentary series featuring composers Saad Haddad, Jeffrey Mumford, inti-figgis vizueta, Pamela Z, Billy Childs, and others

Co-created by VC Artists Nathan Meltzer and Devin Moore, Opus Illuminate's newest project, The Space We Hold, is presented in partnership with the Alphadyn Foundation. 

The series includes both recorded performances and interviews to provide insight into the personal lives and compositional styles of each composer. The aim of the project is to humanize the music and facilitate a personal relationship between the audience and the composer. Topics range from early education and musical upbringing to the unique experiences of being a composer that is part of a traditionally underrepresented or mistreated community.

Episode 3 features composer inti figgis-vizueta, the recipient of the National Sawdust Hildegard Award and The ASCAP Foundation Fred Ho Award.

The musicians featured in the performances include Umi Garrett, Joshua Kail, Nina Bernat, Ariel Horowitz, Jennifer Ahn, Natalie Loughran, and Khari Joyner.

Born in 1993, inti figgis-vizueta is a New York-based composer who combines her upbringing in immigrant communities and Black-founded Freedom schools with direct Andean & Irish heritage and a deep connection to the land. inti is the recipient of fellowships from Dumbarton Oaks, Civitella Ranieri Foundation, and the American Composers Orchestra. Upcoming projects include new works for the Kronos Quartet, Cramer Quartet, The Rhythm Method, Ensemble Reflektor with PODIUM Esslingen, and Ensemble Connect at Carnegie Hall. inti studied with Marcos Balter, Felipe Lara, George Lewis, and Donnacha Dennehy. She received mentorship from Angélica Negrón, Andrew Norman, Tania León, Amy Beth Kirsten, and Gavilán Rayna Russom.

Opus Illuminate is a performance organization dedicated to expanding the classical music industry by performing works by composers of historically underrepresented communities and heritages.

"By experiencing a whole new collection of works by composers of diverse demographics, we will be beautifying and enriching not only our culture as classical musicians, but our culture at large," Nathan Meltzer said. "We can change our society by choosing to allow the art form that we all love to finally represent all the people of a vast spectrum of cultures, heritages, and communities, who have dedicated their lives to the craft.”